Fruit picking device



Nov. 10, 1959 w. M. HOULDSWORTH 2,

FRUIT PICKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 3, 1949INVENTOR.

Nov. 10, 19 w. M. HOULDSWORTH FRUIT PICKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Original Filed Aug. 3, 1949 FRUIT PICKING DEVICE 'Wallace M.Houldsworth, Royal Oak, Mich.

Original application August 3, 1949, Serial No. 108,299, now Patenthim-2,712,335, dated July 5., 1955. Divided and thlsapplication 'May 11,1955,.Ser'ial .No. 507,613

7 Claims. (Cl. '150-'-'-2) This invention, a division of application,Serial No. 108,299., that issued as Patent No. 2,712,335, on July 5,"I955, relates to devices for harvesting crops and particularly toadevi'ce of thischaracter for picking fruits.

The invention relates to improvements in harvesting -devicesiandparticularly to improvementsfor picking fruit where the picker *isinterrupted at intervals of time to deposit the picked fruit in acollecting receptacle. ,An important object of the invention is toprovide a combination portable device worn by the operator andineluding-a "container having means of one way travel for receiving thepicked crop, a flexible tube or chute having :means of one way travelfor delivering the picked crop or fruit thereto, and means associatedwith the hands of the=operator for severing the crop or fruit from thestems and for delivering the fruit by means of the "tube of thecontainer.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improvedholder for the inlet or mouth of a container or delivery chute which isdesigned in a novel manner for fastening to the hand of the-operator,and insuch a manher that the mouth may be adjusted to any convenientposition for receiving the picked fruit or other product. Anotherimportant object of the invention is to provide an improved devi'ce ofthis character so arranged that time delivery tube or-chute for thefruit can be suspended at its outer end from the bottom of the operatorshand and at an intermediate point under the arm of the operator adjacentto theelbow so that the entrance opening of the chute will beimmediately adjacent to the hand in whatever position the hand is moved.

in carrying out the invention, the hand engaging mouth or entrancethrough which :the picked product is fed is provided with flexible bandportions through which the hand extends :soas to firmly hold the monthimmediately adjacent thereto. Associated with the mouth of the device isa flexible lip extending upwardly and flaring outwardly so as to form afunnel opposite the palm of the hand, and in such a manner that saidhand forms ;a part :of said tunnel, in order that the operator may holdsmall objects in his hand, and upon elevating the hand, release thefruit and cause the fruit to roll into the mouth. Associated with themouth is a fruit receiving tube which may extend to a relativelysmal-lreceptacle carried on the arm 'of the picker or may form an extension toa delivery chute leading to a large container carried on the body of thepicker.

Incorporated in the tube are retarding shelves which may be of varyingshapes, sizes and number depending upon the product to be harvested andwhich serve to break the fall of the picked fruit or other product, actas 'partialfioors to carry part of the fruit or other object depositedtherein and prevent the return flow thereof, providing means of one waytravel, and to hold the fiexible walls of the delivery tube fromcollapsing upon themselves.

Ina modification of the invention, the hand held mouth of the device isassociated with an arm length delivery United States Patent 2,912,028Patented Nov. 10, 1959 erably of U-shaped formation and of a size topartially embrace the operators body which may be suspended by suitablestraps from the shoulders of the operator while the device is in use.The container is preferably formed in a novel manner of twohalf-sections hinged together and provided across the opened end of itsU-shaped formation with an adjustable strap which may traverse the frontof the body of the operator and permit adjustment to accommodate thecontainer to the size of the operator.

In further carrying out the invention, there is provided a novel form offruit cutting or severing device constructed of two thimbles, one ofwhich may be worn on the thumb and the other of which may fit the firsttinge-ref the hand of the operator. One of the thimbles, such as thatworn on the thumb, is provided with a tooth having a relatively straightcutting edge which extends crosswise to the length of the thumb and isadapted to 'abuttingly engage the other thirnble in the act of severingfruit from their stems. An important feature of this provision is ahinged joint which connects the two thimbles together yet serves toyieldingly space them apart so that little ell'ort is required by theoperator other than to draw the thimbles together to cut or sever fruitor similar objects from their stems. An important feature of the fingercarrying thimbles is the novel provision for 'detachably connecting thesame to the holder of the chute and particularly for mounting the hingedjoint thereof on one of the hand encircling straps of the holder.

As a result of this invention there is provided a device so designedthat many different kinds of fruit or other crop may be convenientlyharvested, the device being adjustable and capable of modification forthe picking of fruit or other crop of difierent sizes. The productreceiving end of the device is capable of being rigidly mounted on thehand of the operator, yet leave the fingers for picking the fruit." Thehand engaging portion of the device is constructed in a novel manner toreceive a cutting mechanism for readily severing fruit from its stems,the cutting mechanism being capable of detachment when its use is notdesired. The parts of the device are designed for manufacture andassembly at low cost and for quick and economical use.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of theinvention will become more fully apparent from the followingspecification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein: IFig. 1 is a side elevation of the hand connected end of a deliverytube-or chute showing the manner of mounting the same on the hand andthe provision of cutters associated with the thumb and forefinger whichare connected to the hand engaging portions of the chute,

. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken along line Fig. 6 is adetail view somewhat similar to .Fig. 5 illustratin'g the finger Worncutting device for picking strawberries without their hulls,

Fig. 7 "is a horizontal sectional view taken along 'line 7-7 of Fig. '4and illustrating the U-shaped construction of the container, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

In general, the device is capable of modification by the user to receivefruit and other agricultural products of different sizes. For largefruit, such as apples, peaches and the like, the device includes arelatively large container worn around the body of the operator. Forsmaller fruits, such as cherries and strawberries, the device may bemodified to provide a smaller container worn on the arm of the operator.Either container may be substituted for the other by the user of thedevice.

For larger fruit or other crop there is provided a relatively largereceptacle or container generally indicated at 1% in Fig. 4 which ispreferably shaped so as to partially enclose the body of the operatorbelow the shoulders and in horizontal section has a general U-shapedformation as shown in Fig. 7. The container is usually worn so as toextend across the back of the operator and forwardly on either side ofhis body. Suitable straps hereinafter described are provided forsuspending the container in this partially Wrapped manner on the body ofthe operator. Connected to either one or both of the forwardingextending side portions of the container is a flexible delivery tube orchute 12 which may be formed of canvas material or the like and has alength such that it will reach substantially the full length of theout-stretched arm of the operator. The inner end of the chute preferablyopens into the upper level of the container as shown in Fig. 4. Theopposite end of the chute 12 is connected to the hand of the operatorand as will be described more fully hereinafter is capable of receivingfruit or other products which the operator picks.

For smaller fruit or other products there is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2and 3 a smaller receptacle or container which is worn on the arm of theoperator and is interchangeable with the delivery chute 12 previouslymentioned. For this purpose there is provided a holder 14 formed ofrelatively rigid material similar to lightweight metal, said holderhaving a curved oblong shape, a palm portion 14A, which is formed to fitflatwise and transversely in the palm of the operators hand, and has acurved arcuate portion 3 which partially encircles the part of the handopposite to the thumb. The holder is provided with a strap portion 16which passes between the thumb and forefinger and another strapportion18 which passes around the base of the thumb adjacent to the wrist. Theholder may have a lining 5 of soft material, said lining and the twostrap portions may be composed of any suitable relatively flexiblematerial such as leather. As shown in Fig. 1, the two strap portions 16and 18 cross one another at 20 on the back side of the hand. As shown inFig. 3 either one or both of the straps may be provided with a buckle 22for drawing the same relatively tightly to the hand of the operator.

The holder 14 is provided with a lateral extension 24 shown in Fig. 3which is connected by means of a swivel joint to the outer end of adelivery tube which may be the chute 12. The swivel joint enables theholder 14 to be adjusted to vary the angular relationship between theholder and the end of the tube to suit the convenience of the picker.The lateral extension 24 is provided with two correspondingly shapedspherical concave sockets 26 and 27 as shown in Fig. 1 arranged in sideby side slightly spaced apart relationship. Either socket may be usedfor connection to the top end of the delivery tube and since the socketsand associated elements are the same only one socket may be described indetail herein. Each socket is provided with a relatively large aperture28. A bolt 30 which is undersize the aperture 28 extends therethrough.Each concave socket 26 is adapted to alternately receive a sphericalconvex boss 32 which is connected either in- 4 tegrally or by separatemeans to a metallic collar or throat. band 34 forming a part of the topend of the fruit receiving end of the device. The head of the bolt 30 islocated inside the boss as shown in Fig. 3 and the threaded extremitythereof projects outwardly from the :socket 26 and receives a wing nut36 which provides adjustable clamping engagement between the parts. Tofacilitate the clamping engagement a concaved washer .38 is disposedbetween the wing nut and the socket 26 and is provided with a sphericalface abutting the socket as shown in Fig. 3. The head of the bolt 30rests upon a convexed washer 40 having a spherical face seating upon theinterior surface of the boss 32. The resulting construction enables theuser to loosen the wing nut to provide rotatable and limited angularadjustment of the holder 14 relative to the collar 34 and when thedesired adjustment has been made the wing nut may be tightened to securethe parts rigidly against relative movement.

The collar 34 is preferably made of metal or similar relatively rigidmaterial and has a hollow circular shape, and is formed at its oppositeends to provide two peripheral bulges as shown at 42 and 43 forreceiving and securing in place a funnel shaped lip 46 on one end andthe top end of either the long delivery tube 12 or a short flexibledelivery tube 7 with a neck section 48. In each peripheral bulge thereis provided an expandible split ring, the ring for the bulge 42 beingindicated at 44 and the ring for the bulge 43 being indicated at 45.These rings serve to disconnectibly couple the lip and tube sections tothe collar 34. The lip 46 is preferably formed of flexible material suchas rubber and the like and flares outwardly as indicated in Figs. 1 and3 to form a funnel shaped entrance for receiving the picked fruit orother product. The funnel-shaped lip extends outwardly from the collarand approximately three quarters of the way therearound, leaving anopening which the palm portion of the hand will close when in use. Whenthe holder is assembled on the hand of the operator, the fourth andfifth fingers of his hand are disposed within the funnel-shaped lip 46in the manner shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. This enables theoperator to hold small objects such as strawberries, cherries and thelike when picking the same below the level of the outer end of thedelivery tube and upon raising his hand above this level he may let goof the picked fruit and allow it to roll into the funnel-shaped mouthformed by the lip 46.

The throat band or collar 34, as previously mentioned, is secured to thetop end 9 of the short tube 7. The section 48 which serves as a flexibleneck between the collar 34 and a casing 50 when used, said neck has ashort side 11, which is positoned at approximately from the boss 32 ofthe collar 34, and a long side 13 positioned opposite to the short sideas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At a spaced point below the band 34 thedelivery tube may be encircled by a sleeve or casing 50 of relativelyrigid material such as light-weight metal and shown in Fig. 1. The lowerend of the sleeve or casing 50 is outwardly formed to provide aperipheral bulge 52 completely there-around. Received inside of the tube48 opposite to the peripheral bulge 52 is an expandible split ring 54which spreads the portion of the tube against which it bears into theperipheral bulge and in this manner holds the tube to the casing. Thelower end of the casing is normally closed by a flap door 56 hinged at58 as shown in Fig. l, or similar thereto may be used. A projectingledge 60 on the flap door on the side opposite to the hinge enables theoperator to open the door in order to discharge the picked fruit orother product therethrough. Either the hinge 58 may be provided with awire spring which yieldingly urges the flap door to the closed positionshown in Fig. 1 or the ledge 60 may be provided with means 33 forreleasably locking the door to the casing in closed position.

The hand held portion of the device including the funnehshaped lip 46and the tube 12 or tube section 48 is provided with retarding retainershelves therein which break the fall of the picked fruit to preventbruising thereof, when the casing 50 is used, they act as partial floorsto carry part of the weight of the picked fruit, and also serve to holdthe product from falling out of the mouth, when the mouth is disposedbelow the level of the neck and casing sections. These retardingretainer shelves also serve to hold the flexible tube 12 or tube 7 andits neck section 48 from collapsing diametrically upon itself.

As shown best in Fig. 3, the funnel-shaped lip 46 may be provided withan inturned flexible tongue 62, and the holder 14 may have a flexibleshield 15 secured to said holder at 17. Both the tongue 62 and shield 15incline downwardly and inwardly, into the entrance of the delivery tubeor collar 34. The shield 15 covers the space 19 between the outersurface 21 of the holder 14 and a portion of the top end 23 of thecollar 34. A small aperture or entrance 25 is produced between the lowerend 29 of the shield 15 and the lower end 31 of the tongue 62.

The tongue 62, may have a three-quarter funnel-shape similar to that ofthe lip 46, and they are secured along their top edge 33 and their twoside edges 3535. Thus forming a funnel with its small aperture 25adjacent the lower edge of the operators hand, since said hand ispositioned within the space 37, which is surrounded by the lining 5 andstrapportions 16 and 18, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. At points furtherspaced from the mouth of the tube there are provided a plurality ofsemi-flexible conic shaped retainer shelves 64--64, each havingapproximately a half funnel-shape, and each inclining inwardly from theentrance end and the inner wall surface 39 of the tube 7 and its neck Iportion 48. Each retainer 64 is secured along its longitudinal sideedges 4141 and its upper large diametrical portion 51 transversely tothe innerwall 39, as shown in-Figs. 1 and 2. And each has an oif-centeraperture 5.3'between its lower free edge 47 and a portion of theinner-wall 39 opposite said free edge forming a funnel.

The retainer shelves are positioned in the tube transversely inalternately staggered relationship to one another, and are spaced atpredetermined locations longitudinally, so that the picked product willtravel zigzaggedly therein. The first of said retainer shelves 64A to besecured to the top 9 and adjacent the long side 13 of the neck 48. Aguide 49 of flexible material may be used, which is positioned oppositeand extending inwardly. toward the retainer shelves 64A, said guide 49is secured to the top 9 and adjacent to the short side 11 of the neck48. The number of the retainer shelves to be used in a given length ofspace, or the distance between said shelves and the size of theirapertures, are predetermined by the size and bruising quality of theproduct to be picked.

These, shelves may be formed of separate pieces secured to theinner-wall of the flexible tube, or as in the instance of the upperretainer shelf 64A, they may be formed integrally with the material ofeither tube or neck "section 48. The picked fruit falls against thetongue 62 and alternately against the semi-yielding shelves 64-64 andthe falling movement thereof is retarded sufficiently to preventbruising. After passing the first retainer shelf, if the operator lowershis forearm to resume picking, the product falls behind the nearestretainer shelf, thus several of said shelves provide means of one-waytravel and picking from the ground when the casing 50 is used with thetube. The shelves 64-64 also serve, as hereinabove mentioned, to carrypart of the picked product, when the lower end of the tube is normallyclosed, thus forming a container s me with several compartments formedby said shelves, to Y prevent bruising by the accumulating weight.

Associated with the holder 14 and its parts, and removable therefromwhen not desired, is a cutting appliance for severing fruit from theirstems or hulls. The cutting implement comprises two thimble-shapedmembers preferably worn on the thumb and forefinger of the picker. Thethumb receiving thimble is generally indicated at 66; the forefingerreceiving thimble is generally indicated at 68. The thumb thimblecomprises a flexible sheath 70 of rubber or like material whichsubstantially completely encloses the thumb. A relatively rigid cap 72of metal or like material overlies the flexible sheath and encloses theextremity of the thumb. The cap carries a tooth 'or knife blade 74 whichextends crosswise to the thumb adjacent to the outer end thereof andprojects toward the forefinger. The thimble '68 on the forefinger isgenerally like the thumb thimble and comprises an inner flexible sheathor covering 76 of rubber-like material which encloses the major portionof the finger and an outer cap 78 of relatively rigid material whichencloses the tip of the finger. It is preferred to form on the side ofthe "cap 78 facing the thumb a plurality of parallel indented lines orshallow grooves 80 which extend substantially in the same direction asthe knife edge of the blade 74. In use, the grooves receive theknife-edge of the blade at the completion of the cutting stroke in themanner shown in Fig. 8 and prevent slippage of the blade. In addition,the grooves frictionally resist movement of the stern of the fruit beingpicked during the severing operation.

An important feature of the device is the arrangement for disconnectiblycoupling the two thimbles on the holder 14 and for providing convenientmanipulation of the thi'rnbles. As shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 8 each capmember of the two th'imbles is provided with an extension which runs tothe base of the finger with which it is associated and enters the crotchbetween the thumband forefinger. The extension for the cap 72 isindicated at 32 and is in the form of a narrow band of the same materialas the cap and integrally connected thereto at *one end and having theopposite end disposed in the crotch between the forefinger and thumb.lar manner, the narrow extension 84 for the cap 78 is integrallyconnected at its outer end thereto and extends to the crotch of thethumb and forefinger. Preferably each sheath 7t} and '76 is providedwith a slit indicated respectively at 86 and 38 intermediate its endsand adjacent to the lower margin of the cap through which the capextension enters so as to lie against the skin of the finger and underthe lower section of the sheath. The sections of the sheaths which lapover the extension 82 and 84 act as rubber bands for holding theextensions against the thumb and forefinger. At the crotch of the thumband forefinger the inner ends of the cap extensions 82 and 84 may becoiled one or more turns as indicated at 90 to form a hinge joint.

Carried by the holder 14 and projecting into the crotch from the palm ofthe hand is a pin 92. This pin is disposed in slightly spaced relationto the crotch and is adapted to enter the aligned coils 9% of the twoextensions 82 and '84 and serve as a pintle about which the extensionsand their respective cap members may swing. Preferably the pin 92 has afree end in order to enable the coiled end portions of the extensions tobe readily slipped on and off the pin so that for large fruit the pickermay disconnect the thimble members from the device. When the thimblesare mounted in the operating position shown in the drawings, the pinserves to hold the cap extensions in proper position and to hold theextensions from shifting out of either side of the crotch between thethumb and forefinger. The cutting edge of the blade is thus properlyaligned with the grooves 80 at all times. The pin may be formed ofsufficiently flexible metal so its free end may be bent toward the strap18 as shown in Figs.- 3 and to hold the extensions in place.

The cutting edge of the blade 74 may be arcuately shaped as shown inFig. 5 to conform to the radius of curvature of the forefinger cap 78.This enables the blade to cut stems of cherries and similar fruit nearthe fruit leaving the major portion of the stems on the tree. Forpicking strawberries, the cutting element may be in the form of a toothlonger than the blade of Fig. 5 and provided with a shorter cutting edgeas shown in Fig. 6. This enables the thirnble members to pickstrawberries without their hulls and thus eliminate the hullingoperation.

Either the long delivery tube 12, or short tube 7, or the containerformed by normally closing the lower end, or by using the casing 50 arepreferably connected to the forearm of the operator so as to follow themovement of the arm, and both hands and arms may be equipped in asimilar manner. As shown in Fig. 4, a band 94 encircles the arm of thepicker and is connected to the tube 12 at a point approximately mid-waybetween its ends. As shown in Fig. 1, the container 50 is provided witha band 96 which encircles the arm of the picker. Each delivery tube 12of the device may be provided interiorly with retainers or shelves 98which retard the fall of the fruit therethrough and act to space theflexible walls of the tube apart, said retainers are similar in shapeand function as the retainer shelves 64.

The body worn container shown generally in Fig. 4 has a U-shaped crosssectional formation as previously mentioned. Crossing shoulder straps100100 of corresponding formation suspend the container from theshoulder of the picker. A horizontal strap 102 may be provided acrossthe front of the picker to connect the opposite sides of the containertogether. Buckles may be provided on all straps for adjusting the deviceto the body size of the picker. The front edge of each side portion ofthe container may be provided with a door 106 opening into the lowerlevel of the container from which picked fruit is removed. Each door maybe hinged on one side as indicated at 108 and provided with a releasablecatch 110 on the opposite side.

An important feature of the large containers construction is thearrangement whereby the right and left hand sections of the U-shapedbody are hinged together about a central vertical axis for swingingmovement relative to one another. The right hand section is indicated at112 and the left hand section at 114. The inside back portion of the twosections are shaped to form hinge leaves which encircle a vertical hingepin 116. The two side sections of the container are thus swingable abouta vertical axis. To hold the side sections in adjusted position there isprovided an extensible and contractible relatively rigid connectionextending between the outer front ends of the side sections. Thisconnection is formed by two over-lapping bracket members 118118. Thesemembers are connected at their outer ends to the forward portions of thetwo side sections of the entrance and normally will extend in slightspaced relation to the front of the body of the picker. By means of wingnut assemblies 120120 and horizontal slots in the bracket members, theoverlapping inner end portions thereof are rigidly clamped together inany desired adjusted condition. The bracket members hold the two sidesof the container in the desired angular relation about the pivot pin116.

The back portions of the two side sections 112 and 114 overlap upon oneanother and normally maintain the container in closed condition. Asshown in Fig. 7, one side section of the container, such as the rightside 112 is provided along the outside back edge and bottom with aleftwardly opening relatively deep recess or channel 122, The side wallsof the channel extend leftwardly beyond the hinge axis and receivetherein the outside back .they may be separated from one another afterremoval of the device from the picker to quickly remove the collectedfruit and to clean the interior. The inside surfaces of the two sections112 and 114 may be lined with relatively soft material, such as canvas,as indicated in Fig. 7.

The back portion of each side section 112 and 114 of the container maybe provided with an outwardly and downwardly inclined floor such asshown at 124124 in Fig. 4. The two inclined floors cooperate to directthe picked fruit toward the doors 106-106 on the front side ofthe'container 10. It is preferred to provide the container interiorlywith retarding shelves similar in function to the shelves 64 and 98previously described. Two such shelves are shown in the container at 126and 128 and these are arranged in alternate staggered overlappingrelation to catch and retard the fall of fruit thereon and to carry apart hereof as the container becomes full.

. There is thus described an improved fruit picking deice which enablesthe picker to gather fruit and similar produce without intermittentlystopping to place the picked fruit in a receptacle. For large fruit, asshown in Fig. 4, the picker wears the large container 10 around his bodyand attaches each delivery chute 12 thereof to a hand supported throatband 34. Large fruit such as apples and peaches are allowed to fall intothe funnelshaped mouth 46 and thence be conveyed through the chute 12 tothe container 10. The retarding shelves in the mouth, delivery chute andcontainer slow the movement of the fruit so that the fruit movesrelatively slowly and without bruising into the container 10 and serveto carry part of the accumulating weight of the picked products as thecontainer becomes full. For small fruit, if desired, the picker attachesthe thirnble members 66 and 68 to his thumb and forefinger and hingesthese members to the hand holder 14. In place of the large container 10,the picker may substitute the receptacle formed by the casing 50. Thisis readily accomplished by contracting the split ring 45 and attachingthe neck 48 in place of the chute 12 to the throat band. The variousadjustable elements on the device enable the picker to fit the parts tohis size and convenience. Depending on the character of the productpicked, either one of the sockets 26 'or 27 may be used to connect thehand holder to the throat band. Likewise, the swivel joint provided bythe selected socket and the boss 32 enables thepicker to adjust themouth to the most convenient position for receiving the picked products,that is picked adjacent to the mouth of the delivery tube and in somecases within said mouth, and can be held by the pickers fingers withinthe mouth as the pickers hand forms a part of said mouth.

While it is primarily described for fruit mainly berries, it is likewiseuseful for picking peas and other products. The number of shelves in thetubes and containers depends on the size and character of the product tobe picked, thus a device economical to manufacture and use as it ispossible to pick from the ground or overhead, and as a device adjustableto pick several productsor a specific product.

What I claim is: e

1. In a fruit picking device of the character described, a hollowcircular shaped 'collar and a curved oblong shaped holder of relativelyrigid thin material, the holder having a palm portion formed to fitflatwise and transversely within the palm of the operators hand, one endof said holder having a curved arcuate shaped portion formed to extendaround and along the edge of said hand, the holder having a lateralportion which extends laterally fIOIQ the convexed side of the arcuateportion, the collar and the lateral portion formed for swivel connectionof one to the other in at least one location, and means for rigidlysecuring them together in adjusted lateral positions oppositely from thearcuate portion.

2. In a fruit packing device of the character described, a relativelyflexible delivery tube, one end of said tube designated as the entranceend, the tube having a plurality of semi-flexible conic shaped retainerspositioned within the interior of said tube, each retainer to inclineinwardly from the entrance end and inner-wall of said tube, the largediametrical portion of each retainer being secured upwardly andtransversely, and the side edges of said retainer are securedlongitudinally to the inner-wall of the said tube, each retainer havinga free lower edge which forms an off-center aperture with the inner-wallopposite said free edge, the retainers are spaced longitudinally atpredetermined positions, so that their apertures are positioned inalternate staggered relationship to one another, the large diametricalportion of the first retainer being positioned adjacent to the entranceof the tube.

3. In a fruit picking device of the character described, a hollowcircular shaped collar and a curved oblong shaped holder of relativelyrigid thin material, the holder having a palm portion formed to fitflatwise and transversely Within the palm of the operators hand, theholder also having an arcuate portion extending around and along theedge of said hand opposite the thumb, the portion of the holder adjacentthe operators wrist designated as the rear end of the holder, a lateralportion secured to and extending laterally from the convexed side of thearcuate portion, the collar and the lateral portion formed for swivelconnection of one to the other in at least one location, and means forrigidly securing them together in adjusted lateral positions oppositelyfrom the arcuate portion, a relatively flexible delivery tube with itsentrance end positioned to one end of the collar and means for securingthem together, thus designating the other end of the collar as its topend, tube carrying means for securement thereof in a juxta-positionlongitudinally beneath and to the operators forearm, means positioned ata predetermined distance from the collar and forming a flexible neckportion between the securement means and the collar, the tube having aplurality of semi-flexible conic-shaped retainers positioned within theinterior of the said tube, the large diametrical portion of eachretainer being secured upwardly toward the entrance end andtransversely, with the first retainer located adjacent to the entranceof the tube, the side edges of each retainer are secured longitudinallyto the inner-wall of the said tube, each retainer having a free loweredge which forms an off center aperture with the inner-wall oppositesaid free edge, thus forming a funnel which inclines inwardly from theentrance end and inner-wall of said tube, the said retainers are spacedlongitudinally at pre determined positions and arrange with theirapertures in alternate staggered relationship to one another, thusproviding means of one-way travel within the delivery tube;

4. The device of claim 3, wherein, a flexible lip having approximately athree-quarters funnel shape, is positioned on the top end of the collaroppositely to the palm portion of the holder, and means for securing thelip to the collar, the lip extends upwardly and outwardly to apredetermined height providing means for the fingers of the operatorshand to work within the entrance of the device.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein, a flexible lip is positioned on thetop end of the collar and means for securing them together, the lipextends upwardly to a predetermined height and has an inturned flexibletongue, both the lip and the tongue having approximately athree-quarters funnel-shape and are arranged oppositely to the palmportion of the holder, the top edge and upright edges of both said lipand said tongue being secured together, the tongue projects on anincline into the entrance of the collar, the lower edge of the tonguebeing free and forming an ofi-center aperture within the entrance of thecollar, thus the tongue becomes a retainer adjacent to the operatorshand and enabling his fingers to work within the entrance with moreefficiency.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein, the entrance end of the tube issecured in a predetermined position to the collar, in such a manner asto place the aperture formed by the first retainer at approximatelyrearwardly from the center line of the swivel connection of the collarand the lateral portion of the holder, and means for normally closingthe opposite end of the tube forming a container, thus providing meanswhich enables picking from the ground and upward conveyance of thepicked product.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein, the securement means for securing thetube in a juxta-position longitudinally beneath and to the operatorsforearm includes a casing and an arm encircling band thereon, the casingof relatively thin rigid material encircles a portion of the tube, andthe flexible neckportion of the tube has a long side and a short sidebetween the said casing and the said collar, with the first retainerlocated adjacent to the entrance of the tube and the long side of theneck, the short side of the neck being positioned oppositely from thelong side thereof, the short side of the neck and the band of the casingbeing positioned along the same side of the said tube, and means fornormally closing the end thereof opposite the said holder forming acontainer, thus providing more efficient means for picking from theground and upward conveyance of the picked product.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS366,721 Graves July 19, 1887 1,170,960 Canterbury Feb. 8, 1916 1,309,119Dillon July 8, 1919 1,404,163 Pim Jan. 17, 1922 1,600,566 Ricketts Sept.21, 1926 1,715,111 Younie May 28, 1929 2,377,623 French June 5, 1945

